Device for synchronizing clocks



(No Model.)

R. W. WILLSON.

V DEVICE FOR SYNGHRONIZING CLOCKS. No. 267,300. fly! Patented Nov. 7, 1882.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT WV. VILLSON, OF NEYV HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

DEVICE FOR SYNCHRONIZING CLOCKS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 267,800, dated November 7, 1882 Application filed July 12, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ROBERT W. WILLsoN, of New Haven, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented new lmprovem'ents'in Synchronizing Clocks; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with accompanying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in

Figure 1, a front view; Fig. 2, sectional view through the time-wheel; Fig. 3, front view of the frictional plate and lever, thetimewheel removed.

This invention relates to an improvement in clock-movements, the object of the invention being to bring the pointers to the true time at some predetermined instant by means of an electric circuit or impulse through some other medium from a regulating-clock or some distant point from which the impulse may be sent to the clock at such predetermined time, com monly called synchronizing, and to simplify and cheapen the mechanism whereby such synchronizing is produced, and so that it may be applied to the cheaper class of clock-movements; and it consists in combining with a time-movement a mechanism, in connection with an electric circuit or other equivalentim' pulse-giving medium, whereby the power may be taken from the minute or time wheel at a predetermined instant, with mechanism to impart a movement to the time-wheel independent of the clock-movement, so that should the clock be too slow or too fast the pointers will by such mechanism and at such predetermined instant be brought to the true time, as more fully hereinafter described.

The movementrepresented in the drawings is that known as the Howard movement, and needs no description. A is the minute-pointer wheel, which runs loosely upon the center-shaft B, and is fitted at its outer end for the attachment of the minute-pointer, in the usual manner.

Between the wheel A and the front plate, C, a frictional plate, D, is arranged to bear upon the back of the wheel A, forced so to do by a spring, a. The spring a is engaged with the center-shaft B, so as to revolve with'it, and bears the plate D against the wheel A, producing sufficient friction to cause the wheel A to turn with the center-shaft. The frictionplate 1) is arranged in a lever, E, one end of which is hung to the frontplate,C, as at b, the other extending beyond the edge of the plate, as shown. If the lever E be depressedthat is, moved toward the plate Cas indicated in broken lines, Fig. 2, it compresses the spring a and takes the friction-plate I) away from contact with the wheel A, in which condition the power of the movement to turn the pointers is removed; but when the lever E is free, the friction is applied and the pointers operate in the usual manner.

On the hub ofthe wheel A, I make a fiat side, d, and on this hub a spring-arm, F, bears. The friction of this spring-arm is not sufficient to interfere with the proper running of the clock when the friction of the spring a is applied; but when the friction is removed by the depression of the lever E, as before described, then, if the flat surface don the hub has come within the intluence of the spring-arm F, the power of that spring-arm will turn that wheel until the flat side (I of the hub coincides with the corresponding surface ofthe lever F. The flat surface ofthe hub and the spring-arm are arranged at the point where the synchronizing is to be produec dsay at twelve oclock. Supposing at twelve oclock, true time, the clock be too slow, as indicated by the line H, Fig. 1, the fiat surface at of the hub being in a correspondingposition relatively to the arm F, as shown in Fig. 1. At just'twelve oclock the lever E is depressed, removing the friction which engaged it with the center-shaft and leaving that wheel free and under the influence of the arm F, which instantly brings the flat surface d of the hub to coincide with the corresponding surface of the arm F, and turns the pointer to the twelve oclock position, as indicated in broken lines and by line I. As a means for operating the lever, I represent a magnet, L, with a corresponding armature, P, on the lever E. Then the electric circuit is closed at the predetermined timesay twelve oclock-the armature will be brought into contact with the magnet, and thereby depress the lever, as indicatedin brokenlines, Fig. 2; but, as before stated, this movement may be given by any other suitable impulse.

While I prefer the frictional connection be tween the center-shaft and the time or minute wheel, that may be a positive connection-say as a clutehwhieh will be disengaged by the depression of the lever E. This, however, is not suitable for general use, because it will be difficult to adjust the pointers independent of the lever E.

Instead of applying the engaging and disengaging device to the time-wheel, it may be applied at any other point or part of the movement, it only being essential that the impulse imparted through the circuit or otherwise shall release the time-wheel upon which is the cam-like surface to be operated upon.

I claim- 1. In a clock-movement, the combination therewith of mechanism, substantially such as described, to engage or disengage the timewheel with the clock-movement, said mechanism arranged in an electric circuit or with other impulse-giving medium, and a mechanism, substantially such as described, to turn the timewheel independent of the movement when the said time-wheel is disengaged from the time movement, substantially as described.

2. In a clock-movement, the combination of a frictional device arranged to operate upon the time-wheel and communicate the power of the movement to said wheel, a lever in connection with said frictional device, and in an electric or other impulse-giving circuit, the said time-wheel constructed with a flat or camlilie surface and a spring-arm to bear upon said surface, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. In a clock-movement, the combination of the frictional plate D, spring (6, lever E, timewheel A, constructed with the cam-like surface (I, and a spring-arm, F, the said lever E arranged in an electric or other im mlse-giving circuit, substantially as described.

tOBElt'l W. WILLSON.

Witnesses:

Jos. (J. EAnLn, LILLIAN D. Knrsnv. 

